Anti-theft device for automotive vehicles and other apparatus

ABSTRACT

New and improved anti-theft device for use in automobiles and the like is provided and comprises fuel flow control means which, when activated, are effective to prevent fuel flow to the automobile engine and, when deactivated, will not interfere with such fuel flow. Means are included to automatically activate said fuel flow control means upon the turning off of the automobile ignition. Additional fuel flow control means which include an auxiliary fuel tank of relatively limited capacity are included and are operable, when activated, to enable limited movement of the automobile as for movement in a parking lot or the like.

United States Patent Lopez 1 Apr. 4, 1972 [72] Inventor:

Walfrido R. Lopez, 24-46 44th Street, Astoria, NY. 11103 [22] Filed:Jan. 8, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 1,371

1,476,293 12/1923 Gantz 1 37/5525 X 2,162,995 6/ 1939 Bruington.....70/298 3,057,375 10/1962 Etter ...l37/552.5 3,543,040 11/1970 Nemeth..l80/l 14 X Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts Attorney-Harry Cohen [57]ABSTRACT New and improved anti-theft device for use in automobiles andthe like is provided and comprises fuel flow control means which, whenactivated, are effective to prevent fuel flow to the automobile engineand, when deactivated, will not interfere with such fuel flow. Means areincluded to automatically activate said fuel flow control means upon theturning Off of the automobile ignition. Additional fuel flow controlmeans which include an auxiliary fuel tank of relatively limitedcapacity are included and are operable, when activated, to enablelimited movement of the automobile as for movement in a parking lot orthe like.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented April 4, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

WALFRIDO R. LOPEZ Patented April 4, 1972 6 Sheets-Shoot 2 INVENTOR.

WALFRIPO R. LOPEZ Patented April 4, 1972 6 Sheets-Shoot 4' INVENTOR.

WALFRIDQ R. LOPEZ BY JQTZILT Q0 i12-- Patented April 4, 1972 sShouts-Shoot INVENTOR.

WALFRIDO R. LOPEZ Patented April 4, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 v INVENTOR.WALFRIDO R. LOPEZ ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR AUTOMOTIV E VEHICLES AND OTHERAPPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to a new and improved anti-theft device for use withautomobiles and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Although a wide variety of anti-theftdevices are known for use with automobiles and the like to counteractthe current alarming rise in auto thefts, it may be understood that thesame will, in general, be found to be unduly complex and/or expensive tofabricate and install, and quite difficult to operate satisfactorily, orto be generally unreliable in preventing auto theft. This is to say thatin those instances wherein such prior art devices are of relativelysimple and inexpensive form, the same generally prove to be too easy tobypass or deactivate to present a substantial impediment to the stealingof the car. Too, it is believed well known that many of theantitheftdevices of the prior art simply sound an alarm or the likewhich does not, of course, function to absolutely prevent the theft ofthe car.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of this inventionto provide new and improved anti-theft apparatus for use withautomobiles and the like.

.Another object of this invention is the provision of apparatus as abovewhich are of relatively simple and inexpensive construction and arerelatively easy to operate properly.

Another object of this invention is the provision of apparatus as abovewhich are absolutely reliable in preventing theft of the automobile, andwhich cannot readily be bypassed or deactivated.

A further object of this invention is the provision of apparatus asabove which require the use of only readily available components ofproven dependability in the fabrication thereof to thus insure longperiods of satisfactory, substantially maintenance-free apparatusoperation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As currently preferred, the apparatus of theinvention comprise multi-element valve means which include a pluralityof adjustably positionable valve members and an operatively disposed, inrelatively inaccessible location, in the fuel line of the automobile orthe like. Said valve members are arranged so that fuel flow through saidfuel line will be permitted only when eachof the former is disposed in apredetermined position thereof. Valve member positioning means areprovided and are arranged to be disposed in a readily accessiblelocation as, for example, beneath the automobile dashboard, and areoperable through the use of included valve member position indicatingmeans to enable the positioning of said valve members in saidpredetermined positions. Latching means which are operatively associatedwith the automobile ignition are provided and are automatically operableto position said valve members to prevent fuel flow when the ignition isturned off. Second multi-element valve means are provided and controlfuel flow from an included, limited capacity fuel tank to enable limitedmovement of the automobile as in a parking lot or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and significantadvantages of this invention are believed made clear by the followingdetailed description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of the apparatus of the invention withparts cut away and parts in cross section;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through the valvebody of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectionalview taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through the fluidsupply means which are controlled by the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a modified form of valve means foruse with the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 88 in FIG. 7 withparts cut away for purposes of illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, ahousing is indicated at 10 and comprises a shaft 12 extendingthereacross. Indicating dial and pinion sets as indicated at 13 and 14,16 and 18, 20 and 22, 24 and 26, and 28 and 30 are mounted for rotationas units on the shaft 12; while racks as indicated at 32, 34, 36, 38 and40 are respectively operatively associated with said pinions inconventional manner, and are respectively slidably disposed as shownwithin the housing 10 from pull rod and actuating knob assemblies asindicated at 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50. Visual observation of the face ofeach of said indicating dials is made possible as illustrated in FIG. 3for indicating dial 16 by the provision of a slidable dial coverassembly as shown at 51 which may be slidably moved to the depictedposition thereof to enable observation of said dial face, and thenclosed in obvious manner to render such observation impossible.

Valve actuating ratchets as indicated at 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 arerespectively connected as shown to said racks by pin connectors 62, 64,66, 68 and 70 which respectively extend as shown through elongated slots73, 75, 77, 79 and 81 formed in said racks, whereby is provided thatsaid valve actuating ratchets will be slidably movable with said racksin the direction from right to left as seen in FIG. 3, and that saidracks will be movable independently of said valve actuating ratchets inthe direction from right to left as seen in said FIG. The respectiveracks 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 are biased as shown toward the right or rearend wall 71 of the housing 10 in FIG. 3 by biasing springs 72, 74, 76,78 and 80.

A valve body is indicated at 82 in FIG. 4 and comprises stepped,generally cylindrical valve bores 84, 86 and 88 formed therein. Valvesleeves 90, 92 and 94 and 0-ring seals 96, 98 and 100 are respectivelydisposed as shown in said stepped valve bores, and generally cylindricalvalve members 102, 104 and 106 are slidably disposed as illustrated insaid stepped valve bores and sleeves. A fluid passage 108 is formed insaid valve body to extend as shown through and generally transversely ofsaid valve bores, and each of the valve members 102, 104 and 106includes a similarly sized and configured valve port as indicatedrespectively at 109, 110 and 112 formed therein as shown to extendgenerally transversely thereof. A vacuum relief passage 114 extends asshown from the downstream side of fluid passage 108 to the respectivelower extremities of the valve bores 84, 86 and 88 for purposesdescribed in detail hereinbelow.

Valve actuating cables 1 16, 118 and 120 are respectively connected asshown by guide pin connectors 122, 124 and 126 to the valve members 102,104 and 106 and extend therefrom as shown through end cap assemblies128, 130 and 132 to without the valve body 82.

As seen for valve bore 86 in FIGS. 5, the sleeve 92 includes a guidegroove 133 formed therein to extend generally longitudinally thereof,and the guide pin connector 124 includes a projection 135 which extendsinto said groove for movement longitudinally thereof to prevent rotationof the valve member 104 as should be obvious.

Protective sheaths as indicated at 134, 136 and 138 are provided asindicated to protect said valve actuating cables in conventional manner.Biasing springs 140, 142 and 144 are disposed as shown in said valvebores to bias said valve members toward the bottom of said valve body asseen in FIG. 4. Fluid supply tubes 146 and 148 extend as shown into andfrom fluid flow communication with the respective inlet and outlet ofthe fluid passage 108.

The respective valve actuating cables 116, 118 and 120 extend as shownfrom the valve body 82 through the rear end wall 71 of the housing intooperative connection with the respective rear extremities of the valveactuating ratchets 52, 54 and 56, whereby is believed made clear thatdesired movement of the respective valve members 102, 104 and 106toalign the respective valve member ports 109, 110 and 112 with the fluidpassage 108 and enable fluid flow therethrough-may readily be effectedthrough appropriate operation of the respective pull rod and actuatingknob assemblies 42, 44 and 46 as indicated by observation of therespective faces of the indicating dials 13, 16 and 20.

Latching means for securing the respective valve actuating ratchets 52,54 and 56 in the desired positions thereof are indicated generally at150 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and may be understood to be operable, whenenergized, to maintain said valve actuating ratchets and valve membersin the positions to which the same have been set by the respective pullrod and actuating assemblies 42, 44 and 46. More specifically, saidlatching means are operated from a solenoid 152, which comprises a coil154 and armature 156, and is in turn arranged to be energized as shownfrom an ignition switch 158 and battery 160 as indicated by lines 162and 164.

Further included in the latching means 150 are latch means 166, 168,170, 172 and 174 which are respectively cooperatively associated asshown with the valve member actuating ratchets 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60.Each of the latch means takes the fonn of that shown in FIG. 3 for latchmeans 168 in comprising a latch member 176 which is spring biased bycompression spring 178 for slidable movement as shown in a bore 180 ofalatch member support element 182.

The latch means 166, 168 and 170 are supported from a generally U-shapedshaft 184 which includes clutches 187 and 188 disposed as shown atopposite extremities thereof, and the shaft 184 is in turn supported asshown for pivotal movement from the housing 10 by support posts 190 and200. A tension spring 201 biases the shaft 184 and the latch means 166,168 and 170 for pivotal movement in the counterclockwise direction asseen in FIG. 3.

The armature 156 of solenoid 152 is carried as shown from the extremityofa shaft 202 which is in turn supported for longitudinal movement fromthe housing 10 by support posts 204 and 206, and includes clutches 208and 210 carried therefrom as shown. A compression spring 212 isoperatively associated as shown with clutches 208 and 210 to bias thesame, and the armature 156 away from the coil 154, said spring beingdisposed around rod 202 which carries clutches 208 and 210 on posts 203mounted on said rod. Conversely, with the coil 154 energized frombattery 160 through switch 158, it may be understood that armature 156will be drawn toward the same in the direction from right to left asseen in FIG. 2 to engage the said clutches.

The latch means 172 and 174 are supported, in the manner of latch means168, from an L-shaped shaft 220 which is in turn supported for pivotalmovement from housing 10 by support posts 222 and 224. A spring loadedlocating pin assembly 226 is carried from the extremity of shaft 220 andcooperates as best seen in FIG. 2 with a detent formed in the housingwall 228 to positively locate the shaft 220 and the latch means 172 and174. A tension spring 230' biases the shaft 220 and latch means 172 and174 in the manner of tension spring 201 as described hereinabove.

Each of the valve actuating ratchets 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 includes 10notches formed in the underside thereof as illustrated at l to X forratchet 54 in FIG. 3 for cooperative action with the respective latchmeans 166, 168, 170, 172 and 174 in obvious manner, and it may beunderstood that each of said notches is effective, in cooperation withthe relevant latch means, to position the related valve member in adifferent one of 10 positions thereof as indicated at I through X onvalve member 104 in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the valve body 82 of FIG. 4 is positioned inthe fuel line 230 between the non-illustrated main fuel supply tank andthe fuel pump. An auxiliary fuel tank of relatively limited capacity isindicated at 232 and includes vent means 234.

An auxiliary fuel line 236 connects tank 232 with fuel line 230, andvalve means 237, which take the form of those depicted in FIG. 4 andinclude a valve body 238 and valve members 240 and 242, are interposedas shown in said auxiliary fuel line. The positions of the valve members240 and 242 are controlled from the respective valve actuating ratchets58 and 60. A fuel supply conduit 244, including a normally closed ballcheck valve 246, on valve seat 247 connects fuel line 230 with theauxiliary fuel tank 232 to provide for the automatic filling of thelatter upon the flow of fuel through said fuel line.

In use, as when parking the automobile, the turning off of the ignitionwill release the latch means 166, 168 and 170 through clutchdisengagement to enable the movement of the respective valve members102, 104 and 106 to the bottom positions thereof in valve body 82 underthe influence of compression springs 140, 142 and 144 and preventfurther flow through the fuel line 230 as seen in FIG. 5 to thuspositively prevent further operation of the automobile engine as shouldbe obvious. The valve means 237 may then be opened, however, by the useof pull rod assemblies 48 and 50 and concomitant observation of theindicating dials 24 and 28 to place the valve members 240 and 242 in theknown positions thereof wherein the valve member ports will be inalignment with the auxiliary fuel line 236 to permit fuel flowtherethrough from auxiliary fuel tank 232, and the subsequent placementof the locating pin assembly 226 in the detent in housing wall 228 (FIG.2) to latch the said valve members in the said positions. Accordingly,sufficient fuel will be provided, if needed, for limited movement of theautomobile as in a parking lot.

When the automobile is to be re-started, however, it may be understoodthat the turning on of the ignition switch 158 will be effective toengage the respective latch means clutches and activate the latch means166, 168 and 170 whereupon the respective valve members 102, 104 and 106may be positioned-through use of pull rod assemblies 42, 44 and 46, andconcomitant observation of indicating dials 13, 16 and 20 until thelatter indicate that the said valve members are in the respectivenumbered positions thereof which are known only to the automobileoperator to be effective to align the respective valve ports 109, and112-to enable fuel flow through the fuel line, whereupon the automobileengine may be restarted and operated in normal manner. At this timesince there is no further need for the fuel in auxiliary fuel tank 232,the valve members 240 and 242 may be conveniently returned to the closedpositions thereof to prevent further fuel flow through fuel bypass line236 by the release of the locating pin assembly 226 to deactivate latchmeans 172 and 174.

A different form of valve means for use with the valve positioning meansof FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 and may be seen tocomprise a rotary valve housing 250 having a rotary valve member 252disposed therein for rotation by valve shaft 254. A pinion 256 issecured to the extremity of this valve shaft and is drivingly rotated inconventional manner from a slidable rack 258 which is in turn movedrelative thereto by the valve actuating cable as here indicated at 260.A compression spring 262 biases the rack 258 to the right as seen inFIG. 8. A valve port 264 extends as shown through the rotary valvemember 252 and is, of course, alignable with the fuel supply conduits146 and 148 only in one predetermined position thereof for overalloperation of this rotary valve means in the same manner describedhereinabove for the slidable valve means of FIG. 4.

For use in an automobile or the like, it may be understood that thevalve means are disposed in generally inaccessible manner on theunderside of the automobile in the fuel line intermediate the main fuelsupply tank and the fuel pump, to thereby render operation of theautomobile engine impossible except as enabled by the capacity of theauxiliary fuel tank of FIG. 5. The valve moving and position indicatingand latching means of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are, of course, most convenientlydisposed on or beneath the automobile dashboard in readily andconveniently accessible manner. The valve moving means 42-50 being thusdisposed within the interior of the vehicle in the vicinity of thedrivers seat enables the driver to control the fuel flow to the enginewhile he is in the vehicle and obviates the necessity to open the enginehood in order to operate the valves in the fuel flow path.

Although disclosed as comprising only one valve body 82, it is believedclear that the valve means of FIG. 4 may alternatively comprise two orthree valve housing which respectively contain one or more of the valvemembers 102, 104 and 106 and are disposed at different locations in thefuel line to thus render even more difficult any attempt to bypass theanti-theft device of the invention as should be obvious.

An additionally significant advantage of the anti-theft device of theinvention resides in the fact that, since the turning off of theautomobile ignition functions to positively discontinue the flow of fuelto the engine as discussed, a most desirable anti-theft safety featurewhich may, for example, be of importance following a relatively seriousaccident, is inherently provided thereby.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and thatcertain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specificmanner of practicing the invention may be made without departing fromthe underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a anti-theft device for automobiles or the like which include afuel flow path, the improvements comprising, valve means in said fuelflow path for controlling the flow of fuel therethrough, said valvemeans comprising a plurality of valve members each of which is movablethrough a plurality of positions, said valve members being arranged sothat fuel flow will be permitted through said fuel flow path only whenthe same are respectively in predetermined positions thereof, and meansto move said valve members to said respective predetermined positionsthereof, said valve member moving means comprising valve member positionindicating means to indicate the respective positions of said valvemembers, said valve member moving means comprising valve member latchingmeans which are effective to maintain said valve members releasably insaid respective predetermined positions thereof, said valve meansincluding biasing means for moving said valve members to positionsthereof other than said predetermined positions upon the release of saidlatching means to thus prevent fuel flow through said fuel flow pathupon such release.

2. In an anti-theft device as in claim 1 wherein said automobile or thelike comprises an ignition circuit, and said device comprises meansoperatively connecting said ignition circuit and said valve memberlatching means in such manner that the latter will be automaticallyreleased upon the de-energization of said ignition circuit, and will beautomatically engaged upon the energization of said ignition circuit.

3. In an anti-theft device as in claim 2 wherein, each of said valvemembers comprises a valve port extending therethrough and is slidable tosaid predetermined position thereof to align all of said valve portswith said fuel flow conduit to enable fuel flow through the latter.

4. In an anti-theft device as in claim 3 further comprising an auxiliaryfuel supply of relatively limited capacity, a second fuel flow pathconnecting said auxiliary fuel supply to said fuel flow path downstreamof said valve means, second valve means in said second fuel flow pathbetween said auxiliary fuel supply and said fuel flow path forcontrolling the flow of fuel therethrough, said second valve meanscomprising a plurality of valve members each of which is movable througha plurality of positions, said valve members being arranged so that fuelflow will be permitted through said second fuel flow path only when thesame are respectively in predetermined positions thereof, means to movesaid valve members of said second valve means to said respectivepredetermined positions thereof, said valve member moving meanscomprising indicating means for indicating the positions of said valvemembers of said second valve means, and means for latching said valvemembers of said second valve means in said respective predeterminedpositions thereof.

5. In an anti-theft device as in claim 2 wherein, each of said valvemembers comprises a valve port extending therethrough and is rotatableto said predetermined position thereof to align all of said valve portswith said fuel flow path and enable fuel flow through the latter.

6. In an anti-theft device as in claim 5 further comprising an auxiliaryfuel supply of relatively limited capacity, a second fuel flow pathconnecting said auxiliary fuel supply to said fuel flow path down streamof said valve means, second valve means in said second fuel flow pathbetween said auxiliary fuel supply and said fuel flow path forcontrolling the flow of fuel therethrough, said second valve meanscomprising a plurality of valve members each of which is movable througha plurality of positions, said valve members being arranged so that fuelflow will be permitted through said second fuel flow path only when thesame are respectively in predetermined positions thereof, means to movesaid valve members of said second valve means to said respectivepredetermined positions thereof, said valve member moving meanscomprising indicating means for indicating the positions of said valvemembers of said second valve means, and means for latching said valvemembers of said second valve means in said respective predeterminedpositions thereof.

7. In a anti-theft device for automobiles or the like which include afuel flow path, the improvements comprising, valve means in said fuelflow path for controlling the flow of fuel therethrough, said valvemeans comprising a plurality of valve members each of which is movablethrough a plurality of positions, said valve members being arranged sothat fuel flow will be permitted through said fuel flow path only whenthe same are respectively in predetermined positions thereof, and meansto move said valve members to said respective predetermined positionsthereof, said device further comprising an auxiliary fuel supply ofrelatively limited capacity, a second fuel flow path connecting saidauxiliary fuel supply to said fuel flow path downstream of said valvemeans, second valve means in said second fuel flow path between saidauxiliary fuel supply and said fuel flow path for controlling the flowof fuel therethrough, said second valve means comprising a plurality ofvalve members each of which is movable through a plurality of positions,said valve members being arranged so that fuel flow will be permittedthrough said second fuel flow path only when the same are respectivelyin predetermined positions thereof, means to move said valve members ofsaid second valve means to said respective predetermined positionsthereof, said valve member moving means comprising indicating means forindicating the positions of said valve members of said second valvemeans, and means for latching said valve members of said second valvemeans in said respective predetermined positions thereof.

8. In a anti-theft device for automobiles or the like which include afuel flow path, the improvements comprising, valve means in said fuelflow path for controlling the flow of fuel therethrough, said valvemeans comprising a plurality of valve members each of which is movablethrough a plurality of positions, said valve members being arranged sothat fuel flow will be permitted through said fuel flow path only whenthe same are respectively in predetermined positions thereof, and meansto move said valve members to said respective predetermined positionsthereof, said valve moving means being disposed within the interior ofthe vehicle in the vicinity of the driver's seat, said automobile or thelike comprising an ignition circuit, and said device comprising meansoperable in response to the making and breaking of said ignition circuitfor controlling the operability of said valve moving means.

1. In a anti-theft device for automobiles or the like which include afuel flow path, the improvements comprising, valve means in said fuelflow path for controlling the flow of fuel therethrough, said valvemeans comprising a plurality of valve members each of which is movablethrough a plurality of positions, said valve members being arranged sothat fuel flow will be permitted through said fuel flow path only whenthe same are respectively in predetermined positions thereof, and meansto move said valve members to said respective predetermined positionsthereof, said valve member moving means cOmprising valve member positionindicating means to indicate the respective positions of said valvemembers, said valve member moving means comprising valve member latchingmeans which are effective to maintain said valve members releasably insaid respective predetermined positions thereof, said valve meansincluding biasing means for moving said valve members to positionsthereof other than said predetermined positions upon the release of saidlatching means to thus prevent fuel flow through said fuel flow pathupon such release.
 2. In an anti-theft device as in claim 1 wherein saidautomobile or the like comprises an ignition circuit, and said devicecomprises means operatively connecting said ignition circuit and saidvalve member latching means in such manner that the latter will beautomatically released upon the de-energization of said ignitioncircuit, and will be automatically engaged upon the energization of saidignition circuit.
 3. In an anti-theft device as in claim 2 wherein, eachof said valve members comprises a valve port extending therethrough andis slidable to said predetermined position thereof to align all of saidvalve ports with said fuel flow conduit to enable fuel flow through thelatter.
 4. In an anti-theft device as in claim 3 further comprising anauxiliary fuel supply of relatively limited capacity, a second fuel flowpath connecting said auxiliary fuel supply to said fuel flow pathdownstream of said valve means, second valve means in said second fuelflow path between said auxiliary fuel supply and said fuel flow path forcontrolling the flow of fuel therethrough, said second valve meanscomprising a plurality of valve members each of which is movable througha plurality of positions, said valve members being arranged so that fuelflow will be permitted through said second fuel flow path only when thesame are respectively in predetermined positions thereof, means to movesaid valve members of said second valve means to said respectivepredetermined positions thereof, said valve member moving meanscomprising indicating means for indicating the positions of said valvemembers of said second valve means, and means for latching said valvemembers of said second valve means in said respective predeterminedpositions thereof.
 5. In an anti-theft device as in claim 2 wherein,each of said valve members comprises a valve port extending therethroughand is rotatable to said predetermined position thereof to align all ofsaid valve ports with said fuel flow path and enable fuel flow throughthe latter.
 6. In an anti-theft device as in claim 5 further comprisingan auxiliary fuel supply of relatively limited capacity, a second fuelflow path connecting said auxiliary fuel supply to said fuel flow pathdown stream of said valve means, second valve means in said second fuelflow path between said auxiliary fuel supply and said fuel flow path forcontrolling the flow of fuel therethrough, said second valve meanscomprising a plurality of valve members each of which is movable througha plurality of positions, said valve members being arranged so that fuelflow will be permitted through said second fuel flow path only when thesame are respectively in predetermined positions thereof, means to movesaid valve members of said second valve means to said respectivepredetermined positions thereof, said valve member moving meanscomprising indicating means for indicating the positions of said valvemembers of said second valve means, and means for latching said valvemembers of said second valve means in said respective predeterminedpositions thereof.
 7. In a anti-theft device for automobiles or the likewhich include a fuel flow path, the improvements comprising, valve meansin said fuel flow path for controlling the flow of fuel therethrough,said valve means comprising a plurality of valve members each of whichis movable through a plurality of positions, said valve members beingarranged so that fuel flow will be permitted through Said fuel flow pathonly when the same are respectively in predetermined positions thereof,and means to move said valve members to said respective predeterminedpositions thereof, said device further comprising an auxiliary fuelsupply of relatively limited capacity, a second fuel flow pathconnecting said auxiliary fuel supply to said fuel flow path downstreamof said valve means, second valve means in said second fuel flow pathbetween said auxiliary fuel supply and said fuel flow path forcontrolling the flow of fuel therethrough, said second valve meanscomprising a plurality of valve members each of which is movable througha plurality of positions, said valve members being arranged so that fuelflow will be permitted through said second fuel flow path only when thesame are respectively in predetermined positions thereof, means to movesaid valve members of said second valve means to said respectivepredetermined positions thereof, said valve member moving meanscomprising indicating means for indicating the positions of said valvemembers of said second valve means, and means for latching said valvemembers of said second valve means in said respective predeterminedpositions thereof.
 8. In a anti-theft device for automobiles or the likewhich include a fuel flow path, the improvements comprising, valve meansin said fuel flow path for controlling the flow of fuel therethrough,said valve means comprising a plurality of valve members each of whichis movable through a plurality of positions, said valve members beingarranged so that fuel flow will be permitted through said fuel flow pathonly when the same are respectively in predetermined positions thereof,and means to move said valve members to said respective predeterminedpositions thereof, said valve moving means being disposed within theinterior of the vehicle in the vicinity of the driver''s seat, saidautomobile or the like comprising an ignition circuit, and said devicecomprising means operable in response to the making and breaking of saidignition circuit for controlling the operability of said valve movingmeans.